Greenblatt: Palestinian government must recognize Israel

Trump's special envoy welcomes PA deployment to Gaza crossing points, reiterates that unity government must disarm and recognize Israel.

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Elad Benari, 02/11/17 23:09

Jason Greenblatt

Yonatan Sindel/Flash 90

Jason Greenblatt, U.S. President Donald Trump's special representative for international negotiations, on Thursday welcomed the Palestinian Authority's deployment to Gaza crossing points, as part of the reconciliation agreement signed between Fatah and Hamas.

“The United States welcomes the Palestinian Authority’s deployment yesterday to the Erez, Kerem Shalom, and Rafah crossing points in Gaza. The United States believes it is essential that the Palestinian Authority assume full responsibility for Gaza,” Greenblatt said in a statement.

“The United States will be following developments in Gaza closely, while working together with the Palestinian Authority, Israel, and international donors to try to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza,” he added.

Greenblatt stressed once again, “As we’ve made clear in the past, any Palestinian government must unambiguously and explicitly commit to nonviolence, recognize the State of Israel, accept previous agreements and obligations between the parties — including to disarm terrorists — and commit to a negotiated solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”

“If Hamas is to play any role in a Palestinian government, it must accept these basic requirements,” he added.

The statement repeats comments made by Greenblatt several weeks ago. The comments were blasted by Hamas, which accused the United States of "blatantly interfering in matters that belong only to the Palestinian people. We have the right to choose a government that is suitable for the Palestinians."

State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert later stressed that the comments by Greenblatt were in line with the view of the administration.

“There is nothing new about what he addressed. These are the Quartet principles and they’re the principles that I’ve addressed many times right here,” she said.